Reaching the Limits of Empathy by Understanding Institutionalized Racism The implications and issues that arise from a history of institutionalized racism are not comprehensible to every member of our society. More specifically, the experience of an African American person living in the United States differs vastly from the experience of a white person living in the United States due to institutionalized racism and appropriation of African American culture. In her essay “Respectability Will Not Save Us,” Carol Anderson discusses the term “respectability politics,” its relation to African American history, and how and why it has not worked in our society. Anderson claims that “respectability politics were always too flawed to be fully viable”
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For example, Anderson discusses the shooting of Trayvon Martin in 2012. Anderson writes, “Trayvon Martin…lay on the ground with a bullet in his heart…His killer, George Zimmerman, stood there with the murder weapon tucked in his waistband” (Anderson). Looking at Anderson’s points and examples from a broader perspective, one can deduce that a direct point of attack in her examples is the United States’ legal system. In this case, Anderson focuses her logical negativity on George Zimmerman, assessing what Zimmerman told the dispatcher and analyzing his thought process herself. The structure of this example demonstrates Anderson’s use of ad hominem, or attacking the character of one’s opponent in an attempt to undermine the argument of the opponent. By using words such as “killer” and “murder weapon” in direct association to George Zimmerman, Anderson makes it clear to her readers that she views Zimmerman as no more than a murderer. Whether Anderson’s attack is warranted or not, her use of an ad hominem logical fallacy better distinguishes her argument and her own opinion on the incident, which she supports with additional information and evidence pertaining to the
For example, Anderson discusses the shooting of Trayvon Martin in 2012. Anderson writes, “Trayvon Martin…lay on the ground with a bullet in his heart…His killer, George Zimmerman, stood there with the murder weapon tucked in his waistband” (Anderson). Looking at Anderson’s points and examples from a broader perspective, one can deduce that a direct point of attack in her examples is the United States’ legal system. In this case, Anderson focuses her logical negativity on George Zimmerman, assessing what Zimmerman told the dispatcher and analyzing his thought process herself. The structure of this example demonstrates Anderson’s use of ad hominem, or attacking the character of one’s opponent in an attempt to undermine the argument of the opponent. By using words such as “killer” and “murder weapon” in direct association to George Zimmerman, Anderson makes it clear to her readers that she views Zimmerman as no more than a murderer. Whether Anderson’s attack is warranted or not, her use of an ad hominem logical fallacy better distinguishes her argument and her own opinion on the incident, which she supports with additional information and evidence pertaining to the